Understanding Men, Boys and Masculinities

Tamara Shefer serves as Senior Professor of Women's and Gender Studies at the University of the Western Cape, where she has established herself as a prominent figure in feminist and gender studies research. Her academic foundation includes degrees from the University of Cape Town (BA Hons, MA) and a doctorate from the University of Western Cape. Her groundbreaking scholarship focuses on intersectional approaches to gender and sexuality, with particular emphasis on youth, masculinities, and sexual justice in post-apartheid South Africa. She has made significant contributions through her research on HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, memory studies, and social justice in higher education. Her influence extends through her editorial roles in numerous prestigious journals, including the International Journal of Critical Diversity Studies, NORMA: International Journal for Masculinity Studies, and the Journal of Gender, Work and Organisation. Currently leading a five-year Andrew W. Mellon funded project on intersectional feminist and queer approaches to gender justice, she continues to challenge dominant frameworks in gender and sexuality research. Her extensive publication record includes work on critical masculinities, teenage pregnancy, sexuality education, and decolonial feminist pedagogies. Beyond academia, she actively engages in policy development and maintains international collaborations through visiting professorships at institutions worldwide, while serving as a member of both the Psychological Society of South Africa and the Academy of Science of South Africa.

Ann Phoenix serves as Professor of Psychosocial Studies at University College London's Institute of Education, where she has established herself as a leading authority on social identities and intersectionality. Born on March 27, 1955, she began her academic career at the Open University before joining UCL's Institute of Education, where she previously served as Co-Director of the Thomas Coram Research Unit. Her groundbreaking research focuses on psychosocial issues related to identity, particularly examining how social categories like gender, race, and class intersect to shape human experiences. Her work spans multiple areas including family dynamics, childhood studies, racial and gender identities, and migration. As a Fellow of both the British Academy and the Academy of Social Sciences, Phoenix has made significant contributions through her research on intersectionality, which emphasizes how multiple social categories overlap and affect people's lives. Her influence extends beyond academia through her role as trustee of the Nuffield Foundation and her work on numerous national and international research projects. Her expertise in intersectional perspectives has been particularly valuable in understanding how different forms of discrimination and privilege interact, making her work essential for developing more inclusive social policies and research methodologies. Through her extensive publication record and international collaborations, Phoenix continues to shape our understanding of how psychological experiences and social processes are interconnected across various cultural contexts.

Jeff Hearn serves as Professor Emeritus at the Hanken School of Economics in Finland, while also holding positions as Senior Professor at Örebro University, Sweden, and Professor of Sociology at the University of Huddersfield, UK. His academic influence spans over 45 years of research on men, masculinities, and gender relations. His research encompasses critical studies on men, including men's violence toward women and children, organizational studies with emphasis on gender and sexuality, and transnational processes. His scholarly work has significantly shaped the field through numerous publications, including influential books such as "The Gender of Oppression" (1987), "The Violences of Men" (1998), and the "Handbook of Studies on Men and Masculinities" (2005). As co-editor of "Men and Masculinities" and "Norma: The International Journal for Masculinity Studies," he continues to influence academic discourse in gender studies. His current research focuses on transnationalisations, information and communication technologies, age, sexuality, violence, and organizational studies. His contributions have been recognized through various honors, including UK Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and honorary doctorate from Lund University. Through his material-discursive approach to studying men and masculinities, he has developed innovative methodologies combining empirical research with critical theory.

Professor Kopano Ratele serves as Professor of Psychology at Stellenbosch University and heads the Stellenbosch Centre for Critical and Creative Thought, where he has established himself as a leading authority in decolonial psychology and critical men's studies. His academic journey includes serving as the former Director of the South African Medical Research Council Men, Injury and Violence Research Unit and Professor at the University of South Africa, where he led the Transdisciplinary African Psychologies Programme. His research focuses on two main areas: critical men and masculinity studies, and critical and cultural African psychological studies, with particular emphasis on boys, men and masculinities at the intersection with violence, race, sexuality, and culture. His significant contributions include numerous books such as "Why Men Hurt Women & Other Reflections on Love, Violence and Masculinity" (2022), "The World Looks Like This From Here: Thoughts on African Psychology" (2019), and "Liberating Masculinities" (2016). At Stellenbosch University, he teaches courses on decolonial/critical social psychology, Frantz Fanon, and personality psychology, while also leading the CIRCoRe workstream responsible for aligning the University's institutional culture with a democratic human rights ethos. His leadership roles have included serving as president of the Psychological Society of South Africa, chairperson of Sonke Gender Justice, and member of the Ministerial Committee on Transformation in South African Universities, while maintaining an active presence in public discourse through media contributions on masculinity, violence, and fatherhood.